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Kunal Kohli recalls how Rani Mukerji-Saif Ali Khan gave ‘worst kiss of Hindi cinema’, didn’t get along on Hum Tum set

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli shared that Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji lacked camaraderie while filming Hum Tum.

Updated on: May 28, 2026, 17:25:20 IST
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Filmmaker Kunal Kohli’s Hum Tum, which released 22 years ago, remains one of the most iconic love stories of that era. But while audiences couldn’t get enough of Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji’s chemistry in the film, the filmmaker recently revealed that the two simply had “zero camaraderie” during the shooting of the film.

‘Saif and Rani didn’t like each other’

Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji in a still from Hum Tum.
Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji in a still from Hum Tum.

Speaking to NDTV, Kunal Kohli also revealed how he pushed Rani and Saif to become friendlier with each other. He shared, "They were not particularly fond of each other off-screen. For the first half of the shoot it felt like team Rani and me, and Saif alone. Saif and I didn't like each other and Saif and Rani didn't like each other. Then Saif and I spoke throughout the Amsterdam schedule. I said, 'Listen, this film is very important. If it doesn't work, you will not be a solo hero. You'll only be doing second leads to Shah Rukh Khan like in Kal Ho Naa Ho. So let's make this work.'" The director admitted that after that warning to Saif, everyone eventually got along much better on the set.

‘Worst kisses of Hindi cinema’

About Hum Tum

Hum Tum was produced by Aditya Chopra, now Rani Mukerji’s husband, under the Yash Raj Films banner. While the film starred Saif Ali Khan and Rani Mukerji in lead roles, Rishi Kapoor, Kirron Kher, Rati Agnihotri and Jimmy Shergill played supporting characters. The film was loosely inspired by the American movie When Harry Met Sally.

During the shooting of Hum Tum, Rani was already a major star, but the film significantly changed Saif’s career trajectory. The actor became widely credited as Bollywood’s first “metrosexual” hero. Saif also won the National Award for Best Actor that year for his performance in the film -- his first National Award.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vibha Maru

Vibha Maru is an Assistant Editor with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Delhi. With a decade of experience across digital and print media, she covers Bollywood, Hollywood and web shows. A self-confessed cinephile who breathes Hindi cinema, Vibha can often be found sacrificing sleep after binge-watching films and web series. Though she holds a Commerce degree, she discovered her true calling in journalism after enrolling at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC). She began her career covering Delhi's cultural scene, food, nightlife, concerts, and city life at The Times of India, before moving into full-time entertainment journalism with India Today. At India Today, Vibha interviewed some of the biggest names in Bollywood and television while carving a niche for herself through film reviews, opinion pieces, nostalgic features, celebrity interviews, and trend-driven stories. She later brought her storytelling and editorial expertise to The Indian Express, where she continued to deepen her understanding of cinema through long-form entertainment explainers, retrospectives and feature writing. Now, as Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times Entertainment, Vibha continues to chronicle the world of movies and pop culture. Her work spans breaking entertainment news, exclusive interviews, celebrity features, and stories that capture the conversations shaping Indian cinema.

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